The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-09-10
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
Thirty Minutes Of O Lively Debate

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object stated in call. Councilman
Carruthers thought there were too
many police on the force. Council
man Cleveland thought il the force
was to be reduced, put off the last
member that went on, but anything
would suit him. Mayor Trullinger
inquired who went on last: was told
Whalen, Linville and Olsen. Coun-
Gilman Cleveland thought discussion
premature: there hadn't been a meet
ing Of the committee together. He
thought it time enough next Tuesday
night: he had made no report yet.
Mayor Trullinger thought that econ
omy suggested that q chief and five
policemen were too many. Councilman
Sherman thought il the police force
was reduced, it would be well to select
and keep the best men on. Council
man Gratke thought that there was
no use in talking SO much: do some
thing or leave it alone. The mayor
thought the rule OF putting off the
last officer appointed just because he
happened to be the last, was a very
poor rule: he agreed with what coun-
Gilman Sherman said: keep the good
men, put off the poor ones, or those
not considered so good: that was his
Judgment, too. He had no prefer
ences, but simply talked for the best
interests of the city. Councilman
Carruthers thought that private and
public business should be conducted
alike: q man in his private business
capacity would keep the best men in
his employ, no matter when they went
on. Councilman Cleveland thought
so, too. Mayor Trullinger thought
that the police force could and should
be reduced. Councilman Fulton
thought that three policemen were
enough, two at night and one by day.
The city now had five besides the
chief Mayor Trullinger though that
three were enough. Councilman
Cleveland suggested that the council
put them all of. He wouldn't pick
out any man to stay on or be put off:
to do that would Justify objections on
the outside: he thought it better to
follow the old rule. Councilman Car
ruthers said he had no delicacy that
way at all: he didn't want any man
kept on the police force for buncombe
or charity.
He thought that every councilman
had a fixed opinion, and he was not
afraid, il it came to vote, to name
the men that he thought should stay
on or 60. Councilman Fulton
thought so, too. Councilman Cleve-
land said the committee would be
able to make q report next Tuesday.
ANOTHER SUBJECT.
Councilman Cleveland thought that
it was a cowardly way to go to work,
but the fact was that Mayor Trullin-
ger had advised chief of police
Twombly, who is under a cloud,
to resign his star for the pres
ent: that was the question that
the council had come together to de-
eide: he had not made it q personal
matter: he didn't want to. The
question was whether or not it was
right, under the circumstances, to
ask the chief of police to resign his
star; he had no personal feelings: he
was very sorry for existing circum-
stances. Councilman Fulton thought
that it must be asked, Why is this
necessary? Chief Twombly is on bail
to stand his trial: all these matters
and charges would be investigated in
court. He didn't see why the coun-
cl should take any action at all in
the matter; he thought it best for
the council to let il alone: let the
matter 60 on and see how 1t termi-
mates: he thought that best.
Councilman Gratke thought that
on that proposition the tax
payers wouldn't agree: he thought
the chief must realize his
position exactly and thought that the
chief himself should resign; If be
didn't do it OF himself he should be
called upon to resign: that was what
the taxpayers and citizens asked.
Mayor Trullinger said that all pres
eDt must speak frankly. Councilman
Gratke said that he would move that
the chief OF police be requested to
give up his star and his keys till the
matter was settled: he would make
motion to that effect. Councilman
Carruthers thought that till the
charges were made against the chief
in court the council couldn't
do that. Councilman Cleve-
land made statement re.
garding the duties of the justice
court: that a man was simply held,
and his guilt or innocence was not
determined. Still he thought ii
would look better for the chisf to give
up his star: he would like, however,
to see his pay go on il he was sus-
pended. Councilman Fulton said he
had talked with a good many men,
and found that public opinion was
about equally divided: it was but a
short time till court met: there was
a good deal to say on both sides:
private quarrels had nothing to do
with city government. 1t would, he
thought, be better to let il alone for
the present.
Mayor Trullinger thought that till
the matter came before the court the
city council couldn't take any action
regarding suspension or removal;
couldn't prefer any charges against
him; that after the grand jury met
was time enough to take action.
| Councilman Fulton said the mayors
argument was the same as that OF
other sensible men that he had heard
talk about it; he thought it would
be better to let the matter rest; he
didn't think it right to to have the